Hey Everybody! Gnarly's Here and Sharing Today's Review of Open Season for Murder by Lauren Carr!

Hi, everybody! It's great to visit Book Readers Heaven again--this time with Open Season for Murder by my friend Lauren Carr... She writes a series called "A Mac Faraday Mystery" that has become favorite books for thousands and thousands of people... Normally, I play a bit part bringing fun to all the other people at Deep Creek Lake (except when I have a little relapse...) but this time, I don't mean to brag,  I play a starring role! It's the tenth book in the series so I've worked my way into being at the right place at the right time.  You see, I've been trained to protect and serve...so you might say

that I was just doing my job... 

Actually, I learned a lot more than in this one video, not meaning to brag, but I once served in the Unites States Army... Carr always adds that they refuse to talk about my time there, but I'd be happy to share with anybody who is interested--after all, what's wrong with taking a few things that I'd thought might be  fun to play with... I was just borrowing them, not really stealing, you know...

Open Season for Murder:

A Mac Faraday Mystery

By Lauren Carr

Ok everybody, here's what happened... I was out on a routine run but got a little muddy, so, of course, I ran up to Mac and promptly left muddy paw prints on the front of his shirt...Geesh, I just don't understand why he doesn't like getting dirty like I do... But that's minor compared to what I had really done! I had found it!

David reached the grave first. Gnarly
had dug away enough to expose the leg
\and pelvis. "It's a body all right."
He grabbed his radio to put in the
call.
~~~

"What do you have there?" Up close, Mac saw that the object was not made of wood. Even from a distance, its dark color gave it the appearance of a stick. May realized that it was in fact, covered with dirt and discolored after having been buried for years. Wrestling it out of Gnarly's mouth, Mac wiped it off.

"David!" Mac turned around to hold up Gnarly's find to the police chief to see.

David trotted up the doct to get a closer look. Carlisle was directly behind him. "What is it?" he asked Mac.

"I think it's a femur." Before Mac could turn to ask Gnarly, the dog was racing back into the woods. "Follow that dog!"

The three of them chased Gnarly down the path, where halfway to Ashton's home, he darted off the path and up an incline. Over the hill, Gnarly zigzagged through a grove of trees until he came to a small clearing where they found that he had begun digging through rotted leaves and twigs, and a tarp that had been recently torn by a determined German Shepherd...

~~~

Well, I had done the important part so I moved away several feet and sat down to watch. I have learned that people get very concerned when a bunch of bones has been found--of course, I had known right away by the smell that it was human, so I still stood erect, watching while the police chief examined the grave--I never know when I might be called upon to do something else, you know!

Personally, I hate rules!

Now the woman that was there with Mac and the police chief immediately started yelling that it was "Ashton--But it has to be Ashton!" She even dropped to her knees and starting digging! Well I knew she would have to stop...those bones were now what they call...evidence... Well, I admit I continue to think of them as just plain bones. Once something major happens, however, I've learned that, suddenly, everything becomes official and there are a bunch of rules that must be followed.

For instance, this body was now part of what you would call a "cold case..." And then that woman said something that I thought was kind of funny--she told Mac to find the killer, even if it was...her! I admit I was confused--wouldn't she remembered if she had killed somebody?!

Ahwoof? You got anything I could crunch on, and some cool water? I could use a break before continuing...

While I'm on this tiny break, I'll give you a great scoop about the book! There's planning for another wedding! No, it's not me, but a certain young lady and I will soon become members, through marriage, of the same wonderful family... of the great family that Mac and I head up--at least that's how I like to think of how I fit into the Faraday family...

Oh, by the way, I got some extra snacks for adding the next plus for Book 
Readers Heaven in about now...but don't tell anybody, will you?! I'm always a sucker for sweet treats...

Now you know how complicated mysteries can become when humans get involved! Mac and the Sheriff obviously immediately began to  investigate all the people that were involved at the time of the original murder decades ago. In the meantime, there's going to be a ball at the Inn! Yes, it had originally been started by my former mother, (and Mac's) so since Mac is now married, his wife has been planning to renew hosting of the Diablo Ball, which is really a disguise for charging rich people large sums of money for a dinner dance...and then have the opportunity to again be begged for more money during the evening! Such fun these humans have! But, even then, some unsavory characters made it more complicated but sending out phony invitations to the Ball and some real troublemakers started rolling into town!

And soon, we'll be setting up for my next big scene! Hope you don't mind I'm using one of my publicity shots with the sheriff's badge I received once for heroism...I get that type of recognition a lot. Anyway, let me tell you about the take down at the Ball!

Keeping hold of Gnarly's leash, Mac jogged to the other end of the corridor, which opened up into the reception and lounge area where a painting of Robin Spencer (my and Mac's Mom) hung above the mantel of a stone fireplace. Beyond Bogie...His hand flew up to point at their suspect. "Zernborg! Stop! Police!
It was only when Gnarly barked and charged, yanking Mac's arm out of its socket, that Mac remembered he still had the hundred pount German shepherd on his leads.
How Gnarly knew they were pursuing the man..., Mac didn't know. He was too busy trying to get back up onto his feet or release Gnarly from his leash in order to stop being dragged down the carpeted hallway...Bogie and Gnarly, barking up a storm, disappeared around the corner at the end of the hallway...Mac heard Gnarly's barking closing in as the German shepherd followed the scene...Mac reached the door and held it open in time for Gnarly to charge through....
There were three ways out of the kitchen--the back door to the loading dock where food supplies arrived, backup the stairwell, which Mac was blocking, and through the banquet room door into the ballroom filled with over two hundred guests...
Mac made his way passed a collection of cooks and servers frozen in fear and gazing pleadingly for him to help them. On the other side of the counter where they prepared the plates of hot foo, Gnarly was barking and snarling while a man yelled above the barking and a woman sobbing---"Call off the dog! Now! Or I'm going to kill her--I swear--I'll blow a hold right through her head!"
...Gnarly had him backed into a corner..."Gnarly! Stand down!" Bogie ordered. Instantly, Gnarly stopped barking and backed up. He didn't sit. Instead, he stood ready to poounce when Bogie or someone gave him the word...

!!!

"Grrrr! I still get excited thinking about that guy! He had grabbed hold of one of the servers and was using her as a hostage between me and him...Such a coward! Didn't he realize that I would work even harder to save her than if I was just going to bring him down! But, readers, you got to admit that it was a great scene--one of my best in all of the great books written by Lauren Carr. You know, she has some really amazing stories being published and I'm just proud that she took this tenth book to let me shine a little in the limelight! I must admit that I like playing this fantastic part in the greatest of adventures for the mystery series, according to my host's writer here at Book Readers Heaven. We've been going over every scene in which I appear, you know, since I am being spotlighted today! It's so wonderful to be fully appreciated for all that I do to help add writing canine adventure to the many talents of the series author!

Before Mac could return fire, a snarling bark came
from the woods followed by a series of gunshots and
a scream...
~~~

In fact, without giving anything more away, I'm even getting a chance to close with just a few minutes of the last scene where I catch the killer! Yahoo!

Gnarly's barking had stopped.

"Do you see him?" David called to Mac.

Mac shook his head. He couldn't see any movement in the trees and Gnarly was quiet. Experience had told him that when Gnarly was quiet, be afraid. Be very afraid!

~~~

Oh, I'm delighted to leave readers hanging! In fact, there are lots of scenes and trails you'll be following in this fantastic cliffhanger on to the ending! You'll never guess who the "main" killer is, 'cause there's so many other bad guys, like that crazy lady that had brought a gun--which I immediately confiscated--to the Inn to kill her cheating husband and her lover... Oops, I'd better shut up before I give away too much!

By the way, I've been told to tell you that this book comes very highly recommended by Book Readers Heaven and add that this was the most fun she's had since the last book Gnarly starred in...adding that I add so much to the flow of the mystery, while playing my part as a protector from all evil! 

GABixlerReviews

Cool, right?! Just need to say thanks for having me before we close..., ah..., cause it's party time right now! Friends come on in for the goodies! Let's Part!

Shadows: A Jake Somers Novel by Don Castle Looks at Synthetic Drugs...

"About two weeks ago we received a report of a homicide over behind BMT, you know, the Bradford Master's Technical Institute. When the officers arrived they discovered a pretty young girl, carefully placed beside a dumpster, with a bullet hold in her forehead. Initial efforts to identify the girl were difficult because no identification was found with the body. Because of the missing purse the report was initially flagged as a potential robbery."
"This is beginning to sound a little too familiar." Jake said as he glanced over at Steve. "Have you been able to I.D. the girl yet?"
"We have, but so far there's nothing there that points to a suspect. She was enrolled at the college and living in a student complex not far from the campus. As the saying goes, "we're working on it". However I haven't told you the thing that pushed me to bring you and your staff into this thing."
Jake looked at him questionably.
"It was the girl's attire; the was neatly dressed, blouse, short skirt, calf high socks......and no shoes." The captain looked at Jake and Steve for their reactions and then continued. "That's right, no shoes. The detectives combed the area looking for any sign of a purse or wallet and her shoes. They found nothing."
"That's just too weird," said Steve.
"Yes, that's too weird and too strange to be a coincidence," Jake said, "You've got a double homicide on your hands."
"Exactly," replied the captain, "and if I hadn't seen Officer Thomas' report with your comments, I would have never put the two together. Does your agency have time for a new assignment?"

~~~

Shadows:

A Jake Somers Novel

By Don Castle

My name is Jake Somers. I'm
about six feet tall with dark
hair that's graying a little at the
temples. I'm told that I look a
little like Peyton Manning...on
bad day...I liked the Force and
the Force liked me but a freak
accident left me with a bum
leg acquired in a car chase
gone bad...
~~~

Jakes Somers and Steve Evans, both ex-cops have a small detective agency in Dallas. This is the first novel for me from this author and I'll mention that it was hard to get into the story. While the criminal investigation itself is great once you get into it, the early prologue and beginning chapters failed... It seemed like the author wasn't quite sure how to begin the novel, but after he got started with the actual case work, was able to grab the reader's attention. 

With that slow start, however, the reader quickly realizes a number of things--there are many small typos and a really repetitive manner of creating the early scenes between characters. To me it clearly indicated that the writer had insufficiently prepared to capture his reader's attention and hold it...A bad beginning that many times will stop the reader's interest completely.

This lack of a solid story also revealed itself when the writer had the local police turn over a case to this agency...Implausible? I think so. With a little imagination, the agency could have at least been called in to work with the police, but Jake was named the lead??? However, if you're willing to overlook this story flaw, Jack does do a great job at solving the case.

Some readers, like myself, might also feel that the sub plot, the marriage of Jake's office assistant, was not sufficiently defined to have such a major role in the book. It felt contrived and, in this reviewer's opinion, reflects further on the author's need to work on setting and character development outside of the police procedural portion.

I had two of my best operatives on the surveillance
but they could never pin down exactly how he was
moving the stuff. And I don't recall us ever seeing
anyone make a delivery to him. When you finally
charged him I just assumed that someone else had
uncovered information that firmed up your case."
"Well kind of." he said. "Evidently Taggard made
someone really angry. We started receiving
unmarked envelopes in our mail giving us
information about Taggard's business. When we
arrested  him and interrogated him he denied it.
He claimed that he only dealt in legal synthetics.
He claimed that he could sell and get the same
high from those without the legal hassle...
~~~

Two females had been found near dumpsters, the last one directly behind Jake's offices! Of course he went out to look around and was able to point out several issues to the reporting officer, which later led to Jake being contacted...

Jake and Steve immediately began their routine, which included checking out the first dumpster site. Small things missed can lead to significant information, so they were beginning to make headway.

Both victims had been attending college and had been seen with one of the professors... Taggard.

Mel Taggard was now dead... The bodies were piling up, surely they were connected in some way!

And then they learned that the DEA had started looking at Taggard for drug-related activities when one of his students O.D.

I admit that I was surprised, and disgusted, when it was noted that chemically based alternatives, including marijuana, are now being synthesized. And, unfortunately, via that process, if a synthesized drug is identified at the governmental level, then the recipe can be easily reformulated and a new product created!

Actually, it was through the news of a marriage and the needed preparations that more characters began to be considered. Although I thought the amount of detail was top-heavy, I did enjoy the relationship between Maria, the bride-to-be and Jake and his family. In fact, Maria had asked Jake to give her away since she had no family. A bit of humor comes into play also when Jake's lover, Shirley, and his mother become close friends, so that they would gang up on him in making decisions...

This is a good, solid story with the plodding, steady investigation that does indeed normally take place... No major ups or down and since the reader is brought in to the identification of the guilty individual, no real twists or surprises. I will say that the  murderer is apparently a manic-depressive and this characteristic was very well done as the individual was involved with others and with the flashbacks provided.

The tone of the book is similar to cozy mysteries, although I don't believe it really fits since the lead character is not an amateur. Still, it is worthy of your consideration, so do check out some other reviewers' thoughts and decide on this one! I got a 2012 paperback for review, but apparently it is now out in audio and that is being promoted at this time.


GABixlerReviews

About the author: 
Don Castle enjoyed a successful career as an advertising executive, often using his talent for creative writing and storytelling as an outlet from the stress of his profession. He is the author of the Jake Somers mystery/suspense series PECAN GAP, DARK SOUL and SHADOWS, the winner of the 2014 Gold/1st. Place Feathered Quill National Book Award in the Cozy/Mystery category.